LSU RHP Luke Holman selected at No. 71 in MLB Draft
The second Tiger of the night has been selected in the 2024 MLB Draft as LSU right-handed pitcher Luke Holman has been selected with the 71st pick by the Cincinnati Reds.
Holman started his career at Alabama, where he was a starter as a sophomore before transferring to LSU for his junior year where he was excellent. In 16 starts, Holman pitched 91.2 innings and had a 2.75 ERA, allowing just six home runs and 33 walks with 127 strikeouts. Holman was the Tigers’ ace and came through time after time when LSU needed wins down the stretch, including in the SEC tournament with an excellent outing in a win over Kentucky.
“He’s special,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said after the win over Kentucky. “I’ve been fortunate with Paul then Luke this year. It’s deeper with him as a cancer survivor as a little kid, so when you put into context a game you need to win in college baseball versus what he went through and overcame, it’s not surprising. His poise, presence, mound demeanor, maturity, is as good as anybody else I had. He’s going to pitch for a long time. I love it too because some people have more on the fastball or are better in the metrics, but nobody is better at getting outs than him.”
Holman raved about his experience at LSU throughout the year, saying it was the perfect place to get him ready to elevate his game and grow as a player. Now, he’s heard his name called in the MLB Draft and he’s ready to start the next stage of his career.
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“Here it’s a lot more [invested] in baseball. This is next level,” Holman said during the season. “Nutrition is a lot better here and the player lounge is always stocked, so there are plenty of resources to get bigger and stronger. Alabama didn’t have a pitching lab, so it’s nice to have the force plate and all that. I’ve been able to learn about myself from that.”
Here’s what MLB.com’s scouting report of Holman said entering the draft:
“Holman’s fastball has dipped a bit in 2024, sitting at 92 mph and topping out at 94, but it plays better than its velocity because he commands it well and rides it at the top of the zone with quality induced vertical break. His best pitch is a low-80s slider that he also locates well and features two-plane depth. He also has an upper-70s breaking ball with similar shape and curveball velocity but doesn’t have the same feel for it or a sparsely-used mid-80s changeup with some fade and sink.
Holman has a high floor as at least a No. 4 starter because he throws consistent strikes with his two main offerings. He already shows aptitude for sequencing his pitches and mixing locations. He has a lean 6-foot-4 frame and more projection remaining than a typical college junior, so his stuff could get better.”
